Since early September 2025, the United States has been conducting a series of intermittent military strikes targeting vessels suspected of drug smuggling in international waters off the coasts of South America. This escalation marks a significant intensification in the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign against drug cartels and narcotics trafficking, particularly in regions such as the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly defended these operations, asserting that the targeted boats were actively involved in transporting illegal drugs and that the U.S. possesses the authority to carry out such strikes without needing congressional approval. This stance represents a notable expansion of the administration’s approach to combating drug trafficking, moving from traditional law enforcement measures to direct military action. President Trump has long criticized the influence of drug cartels within the United States, framing the strikes as a necessary and forceful response to the ongoing crisis.
As of October 24, the administration has disclosed that it has conducted strikes on 10 different vessels since the initial operation was revealed on September 2. The most recent strike took place on October 24 against a vessel allegedly operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Defense Secretary Hegseth stated was involved in drug trafficking activities in the Caribbean Sea. This operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of six individuals. The majority of these strikes have occurred in the Caribbean, but the campaign has recently extended into the Eastern Pacific, with two strikes confirmed in that region. Venezuela and Colombia have been key geographic focuses in this effort, reflecting longstanding concerns about their roles as transit points for narcotics entering the United States.
In a recent press statement, President Trump hinted at the possibility of expanding the campaign to include strikes on land targets, though to date, all reported operations have been limited to vessels in international waters. He noted that drug shipments arriving by sea have significantly decreased, estimating they now constitute less than 5% of the total, while shipments by land have increased, suggesting a potential shift in U.S. strategy to address this trend. “The drugs coming in by sea are like 5% of what they were a year ago, less than 5%. So now, they're coming in by land,” Trump said on October 23. “And even the land is a concern, because I told them, that's going to be next.”
Through these maritime strikes, at least 43 people have been killed, according to figures released by the administration. The deadliest strike occurred during the first confirmed operation on September 2, which resulted in 11 casualties. However, the campaign has not been without controversy. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly criticized the strikes, alleging that one operation in September resulted in the death of a fisherman rather than a drug smuggler. He accused the United States of “murder” in response to the incident. President Trump retorted by labeling Petro an “illegal drug leader” and announced the cessation of all U.S. aid to Colombia. Further escalating tensions, on October 24 the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on President Petro and members of his family.
Casualties and survivors from these strikes have experienced varied outcomes. During an October 16 strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, two individuals survived. These survivors were repatriated to their home countries—Ecuador and Colombia—for detention and prosecution. The individual returned to Ecuador was subsequently released after authorities found no evidence implicating him in criminal activity. Conversely, the Colombian survivor was hospitalized with severe brain trauma and is expected to face prosecution. Colombia’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti described the survivor as arriving “sedated, drugged, breathing with a ventilator,” highlighting the physical toll of the strike.
The U.S. military has been responsible for carrying out these operations, though it has not provided detailed disclosures about the tactics or units involved. Sources familiar with the campaign have indicated that U.S. special operations forces are conducting the strikes, utilizing intelligence gathered by various agencies to identify and target vessels engaged in drug trafficking.
A significant legal and political question surrounding these strikes concerns the administration’s authority to conduct military actions without explicit congressional approval. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the White House is required to notify Congress when it undertakes military operations. Following a strike in mid-September, the administration informed Congress that three individuals killed were classified as “unlawful combatants,” a term historically used during the George W. Bush administration to describe members of terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda.